University of California

Graphene films clear major fabrication hurdle

Graphene films clear major fabrication hurdle

International renewable electricity and EVs

On 21 May, the UK International Research Centre had a one day meeting in London on "International Renewable Electricity: An Essential System?"

Intelligent underwear

Joseph Wang and colleagues at the University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA have integrated chemical sensors into two brands of briefs, which will allow the constant monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate.

Wireless sensor networks - we are getting there

Suddenly tiny broad band vibration harvesters, transparent film photovoltaics and many other forms of harvesting become sufficient and the 20 year node looks possible.

Ocean powered underwater vehicle

NASA, U.S. Navy and university researchers have successfully demonstrated the first robotic underwater vehicle to be powered entirely by natural, renewable, ocean thermal energy.

Plastic electronics could slash the cost of solar panels

A new technique developed by Princeton University engineers for producing electricity-conducting plastics could dramatically lower the cost of manufacturing solar panels.

Berkeley researchers light up white OLEDS

Light-emitting diodes, which employ semiconductors to produce artificial light, could reduce electricity consumption and lighten the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. However, moving this technology beyond traffic signals and laser pointers to illumination for office buildings and homes—the single largest use of electricity—requires materials that emit bright, white light cheaply and efficiently. White light is the mix of all the colors, or wavelengths, in the visible spectrum.

New path to solar energy via solid-state photovoltaics

A newly discovered path for the conversion of sunlight to electricity could brighten the future for photovoltaic technology. Researchers with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have found a new mechanism by which the photovoltaic effect can take place in semiconductor thin-films. This new route to energy production overcomes the bandgap voltage limitation that continues to plague conventional solid-state solar cells.

Lab plays key role in Department of Energy's artificial retina project

Scientists and engineers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are developing the electronics for a third-generation artificial retina.

Fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing

In research that gives literal meaning to the term "power suit," University of California, Berkeley, engineers have created energy-scavenging nanofibers that could one day be woven into clothing and textiles.

Tobacco plants could produce solar cells

Researchers at UC Berkeley have infected tobacco plants with a genetically engineered virus to produce artificial photovoltaic and photochemical cells, chromophores, which they claim can be extracted and dissolved into a solution to create spray on solar cells.

Wearable thermoelectric energy harvesting device

Perpetua Power Source Technologies, Inc. (Perpetua) has announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research contract from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and demonstrate a wearable thermoelectric generator solution that is capable of powering wireless sensors by harvesting available energy from body heat.

Aneeve to develop hormone sensors from inkjet printed carbon nanotubes

New start-up company Aneeve Nanotechnologies may be able to provide consumer based easy to use sensors that detect oestrogen and progesterone hormone levels in menopausal women.

Light emitting transistors for lab-on-chip

What started out as 'blue-sky' thinking by a group of European researchers could ultimately lead to the commercial mass production of a new generation of optoelectronic components for devices ranging from mobile laboratories to mobile phones.

At Stanford, nanotubes + ink + paper = instant battery

Dip an ordinary piece of paper into ink infused with carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires, and it turns into a battery or supercapacitor. Crumple the piece of paper, and it still works. Stanford researcher Yi Cui sees many uses for this new way of storing electricity.

IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA Award Winners Announced

IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA Award Winners Announced This week the IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA event opened to more than 900 attendees from 28 countries - by far the World's largest event on the topic. Held in San Jose, CA, the event featured more end users than ever before and grew by almost 25% compared to the same event in 2008. The event featured the annual IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA Awards ceremony, aimed to recognize outstanding achievement.

Solarmer achieves 7.9% NREL certified plastic solar cell efficiency

Solarmer Energy, Inc. employees are in high spirits after receiving news of their latest NREL certified plastic solar panel efficiency of 7.9%. Several accomplishments of this magnitude have made 2009 a great year for Solarmer including achievements in manufacturing, plastic solar cell and module efficiency, and awards. This achievement also holds very special meaning to the founders of the company, dating back to before the company started.

Lead free piezoelectrics

A lead-free alternative to the current crop of piezoelectric materials has been identified by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley.